Summary

Live Reporting

Edited by Ben Hatton and Caitlin Doherty, with reporting from BBC Weather and teams across the UK

  1. More warnings in place after day of disruption, as Storm Goretti approaches

    Ian Aikman
    Live reporter

    An ice warning sign on a snowy roadsideReuters

    Warning sign near Buxton, Derbyshire

    Many children across the UK have either stayed at home or played in the snow today, with more than 1,000 schools closed due to icy cold and heavy snowfall.

    More snow is forecast for northern Scotland overnight, with Aberdeenshire Council declaring a major incident and warning of possible power cuts.

    Authorities in the region are working hard to keep roads open, amid fears some communities could be cut off. Every school in Aberdeen will be closed tomorrow.

    Several weather warnings for ice and snow are already in place from the Met Office, with more starting at midnight.

    Last night was the coldest night of the winter so far, but tonight is forecast to be warmer, with slightly higher temperatures during Wednesday for some.

    But we could see more wind and snow in England and Wales later this week, with the arrival of Storm Goretti on Thursday.

    We’ve been bringing you snowy stories from across the country - including from this stonemason who built an igloo in Orkney, and from our own Aussie reporter who took a moment to soak in the snowflakes outside the office.

    We're ending our live coverage here. You can read more in our news story.

  2. Latest forecast shows warmer temperatures on Wednesday for many

    Simon King
    Presenter and meteorologist, BBC Weather

    A map showing Wednesday's weather forecast, with temperatures ranging from 9C in the southeast to 3C in northern Scotland

    While heavy snow showers continue across northern Scotland tonight, rain and some hill snow is spreading south-east elsewhere across the UK.

    But with the increased cloud and more of a westerly wind, it won’t be as cold overnight compared to last night.

    However, by Wednesday morning, temperatures will still be hovering around freezing across the UK so that means there’s still the risk of ice on untreated surfaces.

    More snow showers are expected across northern Scotland and so the ongoing disruption is likely to continue with warnings for snow and ice continuing all day.

    Elsewhere the forecast is looking mostly dry with sunny spells, although cloud will increase from the south and west with some light rain into Northern Ireland, Cornwall and Pembrokeshire by the end of the day.

    Maximum temperatures will be a couple of degrees higher than Tuesday at around 2C to 7C.

  3. New ice warning takes effect in Northern Ireland

    A yellow Met Office warning for ice has just come into force in Northern Ireland. It's due to last until 11:00 tomorrow morning.

    Another yellow ice warning for most of England and Wales starts at midnight and lasts until 10:00 tomorrow.

    Amber and yellow snow and ice warnings for Scotland are already in place. These will end later today and will be replaced by yellow warnings lasting until 11:00.

    Further yellow warnings for snow and wind in parts of England and Wales are set to take effect on Thursday, as Storm Goretti arrives.

    A map showing yellow weather warnings for most of the UK on Wednesday

    Weather warnings in place for Wednesday

  4. Couple stranded at airport in Amsterdam as snow disruption continues

    James Kelly
    UGC Hub

    Owain and Hannah

    Owain and Hannah are hoping to get back to Teesside

    Owain and Hannah Brennan are stranded at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport after snow and ice caused travel chaos at the international hub.

    The couple, who are both 27, had spent the Christmas and New Year break on holiday in Canada.

    A delay due to "operational reasons" meant their flight from Canada arrived four-hours late into a snowbound Schiphol airport.

    This meant they had missed their connecting service to Teesside Airport - and further flights from Schiphol were cancelled due to the wintry weather.

    "The weather in Canada was minus 30C but now we're stuck in Amsterdam where it's minus 2C," Owain says.

    "We are mainly just rolling with it," he says, but admits it's stressful to have booked a hotel and be paying for food without being certain they'll be reimbursed.

    "We also have some medication that is essential that will run out on Thursday if we don’t get back," he adds, as the pair cross their fingers for a return to Teesside soon.

    Amsterdam Schiphol's latest update, issued at 16:00 local time (15:00 GMT), says "only limited air traffic" is currently possible to and from Schiphol.

    A plane on a snow runway. There are lots of snowflakes on the window.

    The couple sent us this image of the snowy runway in Amsterdam

  5. Cold castles and frozen canals - your pictures

    A big thank you to our BBC Weather Watchers for sharing your pictures with us today - here's some of our favourite snaps.

    A dog on a snowy walkBBC WEATHER WATCHERS/MARVO

    Four-legged friends on snowy walks are always a crowd-pleaser in the BBC office

    A frozen canal in ReadingBBC WEATHER WATCHERS/EMMAH

    This canal in Reading was unable to withstand the winter chill

    A bench in a snow covered field with a small building in the distanceBBC WEATHER WATCHERS/LUMAHARR

    Aberdeenshire has seen some of the heaviest snowfall over the last couple of days

    Castle on a hill with snow on the ground belowBBC WEATHER WATCHERS/LIZ WILSON

    A makeshift moat of snow protects Bamburgh castle in Northumberland

    A group of horses in a frozen fieldBBC WEATHER WATCHERS/HANG ROSS

    And finally, our sympathies to these horses in Hampshire whose grass today comes with an icy crunch

  6. What the forecast suggests about further school closures

    Simon King
    Presenter and meteorologist, BBC Weather

    Children sledding in Denbigshire

    Parents are beginning to wonder whether children will ever get back to school

    With schools closed for a second day stalling their return from the Christmas break, these school children in Denbighshire, Wales, are making the most of the extended time off.

    Parents - like me - however might be thinking this now feels like a very long time they’ve been off, and wondering will they EVER actually get back to school?

    More snow is likely in Northern Scotland into Wednesday where there’s a chance of further school closures - in addition to those in Aberdeen we’ve heard will definitely be closed.

    But, with a let up in snow elsewhere, it’s more likely many schools will reopen their doors.

    We just need to keep an eye on Friday morning when the potential for more widespread heavy snow may arise across Wales, as well as central and southern England as Storm Goretti causes problems.

  7. Can I get time off work if my child's school is closed?

    A woman walks with her child along a snow-covered path in Alexandra Park in Manchester, she is pulling a sledgeReuters

    As schools have been closed across the UK, here is what you need to know if classes are cancelled:

    How do I know if my child's school is closed?

    Most local councils list school closures in their area on their websites.

    Local media and radio stations often also share lists of school closures through the morning.

    Who decides whether to close a school?

    Schools set their own plans and policies on how to deal with adverse weather conditions.

    As a result, it's up to headteachers to decide whether it's safe to open based on a risk assessment and taking other local issues like transport and access into account.

    What will my child's school do when it's closed?

    Schools will try to give parents as much notice as possible about a potential closure.

    If it does close, then the Department for Education requires that a school should consider moving to remote learning until it is able to reopen.

    Can I get time off work to look after my children?

    The Employment Rights Act allows parents to take time off work "because of the unexpected disruption or termination of arrangements for the care of a dependent".

    But, this does not mean that the parent will definitely be paid for the time off work - whether this is the case will depend on the employers' policies.

  8. 'It's like climbing Mont Blanc'

    Basilica of Sacre Coeur wide shotAFP

    Other parts of Europe have also seen snow this week.

    The basilica of Sacre Coeur in Paris's Montmarte district has found itself glazed with snow today, and the AFP news agency has been hearing from visitors at the historic site.

    "It's really extraordinary," tour guide Valeria says. "It's very special because it's very rare to see Paris covered in snow."

    She admits, however, that the icy conditions have made her job guiding groups a little more difficult: "It's like climbing not Montmartre but Mont Blanc".

    ValeriaAFP

    Tour guide Valeria admits the slippery conditions have made her job a little tricky

    In fact, Japanese tourist Tetsu tells AFP he nearly fell victim to the conditions himself.

    "I just walked the street and I slipped. Actually I lived in Hokkaido in Japan two years so I got used to walking on the ice but I forgot everything how to walk on the ice or snow," he recalls, according to AFP's translation.

    Yesterday, pictures showed skiers making the most of the wintry conditions, as they made their way down the makeshift slopes of the basilica's famous hillside.

  9. Met Office advice for heating your home in cold weather

    A pair of hands in a jumper with long blue sleeves held on top of a white radiatorGetty Images

    Keeping your home warm in these conditions is not just a matter of comfort - the Met Office says it's also important for your health.

    "The cold thickens blood and increases blood pressure, and breathing in cold air can increase the risk of chest infections," it warns.

    It advises heating your home to at least 18C (64.4F) - especially if you have reduced mobility, are over 65, or have a health condition.

    To keep the heat in, it suggests:

    • Closing your curtains at dusk and keeping windows shut at night
    • Making sure your radiators are not blocked by curtains or furniture
    • Fitting draught proofing to seal gaps around windows and doors

    Some households are entitled to cold weather payments to help with fuel bills - you can find out who gets them and how here.

  10. Do you want to build a snowman? There's an ideal method, apparently

    BBC Bitesize

    A woman pulls along two children on a sledge by snowmen earlier this week at Tynemouth the North East of England.PA Media

    Snowmen made in Tynemouth, north-east England, earlier this week

    With schools closed and snow falling up and down the country, snowmen are popping up everywhere.

    But what makes the perfect snowman?

    Snowman historian Bob Eckstein told BBC Bitesize that first of all, obviously, you need snow. But it’s also important to have some moisture in the snow as well.

    Temperatures just above 0°C are often ideal – slightly moist snow sticks together, whereas in extreme cold conditions, the air and snow is often too dry, which makes it difficult to form snowballs or a snowman base.

    In 2017, James Hind, a senior lecturer in statistics at Nottingham Trent University, came up with a mathematical formula for what he called the perfect snowman, aiming for a three-tiered snowman exactly 1.62m (5ft 4in) tall.

    But so long as you have the snow – and a carrot for a nose – you can’t really go wrong.

  11. Frozen canals and cold paws - your pictures

    Our BBC Weather Watchers have captured some of the day's chilly scenes - take a look below.

    A golden retriever sits in a snow-covered fieldBBC Weather Watchers/Sky Blue Paul

    Northwich, Cheshire

    Boats covered in frost and snow on a partially frozen body of water in BreconBBC Weather Watchers/Metropolis

    Brecon, Powys

    A dog runs through a snow-covered fieldBBC Weather Watchers/Celtman

    Kinmuck, Aberdeenshire

    Boats covered in snow in a frosty canal, while four people and a dog walk along a nearby path covered in snowBBC Weather Watchers/Zoe

    Barnoldswick, Lancashire

  12. Have you been impacted by the cold weather?

    A BBC graphic with white text of Your Voice on a red background

    We want to hear from you - you can get in touch in the following ways:

    In some cases a selection of your comments and questions will be published, displaying your name and location as you provide it unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published.

  13. More than 1,000 schools closed today across the UK

    A snow-covered primary school in ScotlandJeff J Mitchell via Getty Images

    Though there’s no central database, by our count there are more than 1,000 schools closed across the UK today – many of these are shut for the second day in a row.

    In Wales, more than 380 schools have shut their doors.

    More than 300 schools in Scotland are shut, particularly in the northeastern areas which have seen the most snow – and which are covered by amber weather warnings.

    That includes most schools in Aberdeen, which has just announced all schools will stay closed tomorrow.

    In Northern Ireland, 203 schools are closed, mostly in the west and northeast.

    It’s more difficult to get a clear picture for England because not every county publishes a full list.

    But from what we can gather, at least 239 schools are closed across England. Many of these are in Staffordshire, where nearly 100 are reported shut. There are also 50 closed in North Yorkshire and 50 closed or partially closed in Devon.

    Cornwall and Norfolk are both reporting around 30 schools closed. In some counties there are just one or two schools closed, like in Essex where two are shut due to heating issues.

  14. Amber cold-health alert for whole of England extended until weekend

    Chart titled ‘Adverse weather health alert service – What the alert levels mean.’ Four colour-coded levels are shown: Green – No alert, conditions likely to have minimal impact on health; Yellow – Adverse weather likely to affect vulnerable groups; Amber – Conditions could affect whole population and NHS, travel disruption likely; Red – Significant risk to life, threat to critical infrastructure. Source: UK Health Security Agency

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended an amber cold-health alert for all regions of England until Sunday 11 January.

    "Prolonged exposure to low temperatures can have a severe impact on people’s health, especially if they’re older or have serious health condition," says Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA.

    As a result, he urges people to check in on friends, family and neighbours who might be more vulnerable to the cold while the alert remains in place.

    The UKHSA lists some of the consequences of the cold weather risks as including:

    • A rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions
    • A likely increase in demand for health services
    • Temperatures inside places like hospitals, care homes, and clinics dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks
    • Challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18°C leading to more risk to vulnerable people
    • Impact on transport and energy

  15. Aberdeenshire declares a major incident over snowfall

    A man stands in path he has cleared in the snow. It is about thigh deep and he is wrapped up and holding a shovel. A house behind him has long icicles hanging off itBBC Weather Watchers/paget

    Parts of the area, like here in Tullynessle, have seen very deep snow

    Aberdeenshire Council has declared a major incident after days of snowfall.

    An amber alert for heavy snow covers the area and more is expected in the days ahead.

    The local authority says it is looking at a "prolonged period of significant impacts" with transport delays and potential power cuts.

    It says there is a "good chance" that some communities could become cut off, and that it plans to ship in some 4,000 tonnes of salt tomorrow by boat to keep the roads open.

    deep snow over a car on a driveway with houses in the backgroundBBC Weather Watchers/Itsabrawday

    This car in Insch was barely visible after another flurry of snow

  16. Transport update on the roads and rails

    On the rails:

    • Eurostar services from London St Pancras to Amsterdam have so far only called as far as Brussels and are scheduled to have only limited service for the rest of the day
    • London North Eastern Railway advises customers should not travel between Edinburgh and Aberdeen due to heavy snowfall
    • LNER is also warning of disruption to services across northern Scotland with disruption expected until the end of the day today
    • Meanwhile Network Rail Scotland has snowploughs at work between Aberdeen and Inverness to clear snowdrifts preventing the line from opening

    On the roads:

    • In England,National Highways says there are "currently no high priority alerts" on the roads
    • Several roads have been closed in Wales, from Gwynedd to Carmarthenshire - get the details here
    • Scottish drivers have been warned of hazardous conditions in places, while buses in the north east face delays
    • Cancellations and delays have hit bus services in Northern Ireland, while trafficwatchNI says there are "no reports of any incidents or delays" on the roads as of Tuesday afternoon

  17. Tonight not forecast to be as cold as last night

    Darren Bett
    BBC weather presenter

    As we have been reporting, last night was the coldest night of the winter so far. The temperature fell to minus 12.5C at Marham in Norfolk. So, will tonight be colder?

    In short: no. For a start, the air heading over the UK, initially on a westerly breeze, is not as cold. There will be more cloud tonight. This cloud will bring a spell of rain, or sleet, with snow mainly over high ground in northern Scotland. As cloud breaks later in the night the temperature will dip away.

    The cold is isn't going away completely and Wednesday night and Thursday night could see temperatures again down to minus 10C in Scotland. And we are not quite half way through winter, so there's plenty of time for very cold air to return.

    A chart comparing the minimum temperatures on Monday night into Tuesday, compared with the forecast for Tuesday night into Wednesday. Marham: -12.5C last night and -2C tonight, Katesbridge, -5.4C last night, and 0C tonight

  18. Finally, the World War Two snow operations vehicle comes in handy

    Residents in north Wales have been treated to the unusual sight of a World War Two all-terrain vehicle transporting people through the snow.

    The Studebaker M29C Weasel was designed to be used in snow in places such as Norway during the war to try and stop Germany’s nuclear weapons programmes.

    Military collector Andrew Singleton, 55, from Bethesda, said he bought the Weasel in 2005 and, having restored it, decided to take it out for a spin on the A5, which was impassable to other vehicles at the time.

    Singleton said the vehicle, which has a maximum speed of 36 mph, "handled beautifully", adding "everybody was pleased to see it".

    Dawn Stanworth, 38, from Bethesda said it was a "really fun" experience which "made a lot of people smile".

    A world war 2 vehicle, with tank tracks, drives several people through the snowDawn Stanworth / Anglesey Island

  19. 'I built an igloo with a fireplace and chimney'

    Two men and a little girl are wrapped up in warm outdoor clothing with a little girl, who is also wrapped up, in an igloo. A second picture shows the little girl illuminated by light in the iglooKyle Doran

    Kyle Doran (right, first picture) with daughter Norah Doran and father-in-law Andrew Bowman

    While the weather has caused plenty of disruption across the UK, one man has found a special way to make use of it.

    Kyle Doran has built an igloo with a working fireplace outside his in-law's home in Twatt in the west mainland of Orkney.

    The last few days have seen the area blanketed with snow, which gave him plenty to work with.

    The self-employed stonemason created bricks by packing snow into a big Lego, and even added a fireplace and chimney.

    An igloo with a fireplace which glows amber. It has been built in a garden and it is dark outsideKyle Doran

  20. It's snowing in London - for an Aussie, that's a big deal

    Angus Thompson
    Live reporter

    It's not quite the North Pole, but the snowflakes are coming down thick and fast out the front of Broadcasting House in central London – and this Australian couldn't be happier.

    I can't recount an occasion where I've walked outside my former Sydney office to the magic of snowfall, so it's with childish delight that I've stepped outside to take in the scene.

    While I don't expect to be sledding home, I'll chalk this up as a treasured experience.

    A man looks very happy in the snow outside of the BBC building